John Beilein remembers an early conversation with Ben Cronin, his first commitment at Michigan, vividly.

‘Was Michigan ever good at basketball?’

That was Ben Cronin in 2007. Beilein excused the question because Cronin “grew up watching Sports Center in 1999 when we took a hiatus from the post season” but six years later Michigan basketball is back.

Michigan hadn’t been to the NCAA tournament in a decade when Beilein took over in Ann Arbor. Since then the Wolverines have been to four NCAA tournaments, a National Championship game and raised a Big Ten Championship banner in the Crisler Center.

Beilein inked a $2.45 million per year contract extension through 2019 earlier this month and it’s a safe bet that the Wolverines will be a force to reckoned with for the foreseeable future.

Michigan’s head coach isn’t worried about the past, he’s more concerned about what the extension means for the program’s future.

“My plan was to at least coach six more years,” Beilein explained. “The 2015 [recruiting] class, I wanted to coach all those guys. That’s the plan right now is to do that. When I first got here I knew I wanted to coach at least that contract.

“But obviously I love what I’m doing now and who knows where this all goes and I love the faith the University has in me to re-do my contract for that extension.”

Earlier recruiting has led to the necessity of longer contracts, according to Beilein who is focused on pursuing 2015 and 2016 recruits along with the oft discussed class of 2014.

“Back in the day when you weren’t looking at 2015 and 2016 kids [this wasn’t as big of a deal]. They want to know [who’s with the program]. With young men committing earlier and just looking at the long range, they want to know who’s going to be coaching there,” Beilein said. “That’s the only plan that we have. It’s important and I think you’ll see that we aren’t the only ones doing that. You’ll see it’s a commitment by the University, it’s a commitment by myself, ‘this is what I want to do’ because I’ve found a place that is just a tremendous place to coach.”

Beilein was confident that he wants to coach “at least” six more season but doesn’t want that to be misinterpreted. Six years is no hard stop.

“It’s very similar to when I first came here. I think that’s a fair amount for you to just do your job and stay focused with it,” Beilein explained. “The day I don’t want to get up and go to the office will be the day I don’t coach anymore.

“I’ve made all these miles, trips and red-eyes and I couldn’t wait to get to work yesterday. I was up early this morning and couldn’t wait to get here today. I can’t wait to go recruiting tomorrow. So that’s good stuff.”

Beilein addresses LaVall Jordan and Butler

Michigan assistant coach LaVall Jordan nearly made the jump from rising star assistant coach to Big East head coach. Jordan was a finalist for the head coaching job at his alma mater, Butler, before the Bulldogs selected Brandon Miller as their new headman.

Beilein compared to situation to an NBA early entry.

“I see it very similar to Trey and Tim. You recruit and you don’t recruit with the idea that you’re gonna lose them to the NBA.You recruit with the idea that you’re gonna develop them and they’ll continue to grow and maybe something like this could happen.”

Beilein emphasized that Butler would be a great situation for Jordan – and he would have “understood it 100%” – and that Michigan’s assistants can pick and choose the right job.

“With all of our assistants, they’re very capable assistants,” he said. “What they have is the best of both worlds right now. They have a top high level coaching environment here at Michigan so they can be very selective with where they would like to go if they were given a head coaching opportunity.”

But Michigan’s staff is back and even Jordan was ready to hit the ground running.

“That next day he was on the phone with me talking so much about the whole recruiting dynamic that we’re going through right now. He jumped right back in and said ‘this is where I want to be, this is where I want to coach’ it was great.”

Morgan healthy again

Lost in Michigan’s remarkable run to the Final Four was a bittersweet close to the season for Jordan Morgan. Morgan never quite looked himself after being plagued by a high ankle sprain midway through the season.

“I’ve really seen some good things [from Jordan Morgan]. We’ve only had two workouts with him and then yesterday,” Beilein said. “The way he was ending to the way he is now. There’s a really positive development with his shooting, his attitude, everything. He’s healthy. His legs are healthy.”

Although Morgan still played in 36 of 39 games, he was clearly never himself after the ankle injury. He played fewer than 10 minutes in 14 of Michigan’s final 20 games and registered just 25 minutes of playing time in the NCAA tournament. (Photo: Dustin Johnston)

“I don’t think we’ll ever be able to really put a number on what that cost him, that injury,” Beilein said. “That sprain was nagging and threw off his timing, it threw off his confidence. It will really be big for him to come back the way he had played at several times over his career here. There were times he was the best big man on the court – on either team.”

glad to hear Jordan Morgan is fully healthy….im expecting a great senior season from him…solid role-player…

Fab 5 Legends

1 of my favorite moments of our run last year…was his dunk to close the game against Syracuse – send us to the national championship…as Syracuse was closing in…was soo happy to see that.

NYC Michigan Fan

I was in the student section for the Syracuse game. When Morgan took the charge on one end a few possessions before and then to end the game with a thunderous dunk was incredible. Spike and Caris hit a couple big 3’s each in the first half, but to have Jordan finish the game with that kind of dunk was truly awesome. Hope he can be a force alongside McGary next year. His defense and rebounding could be a huge factor in our success next season.

Wayman Britt

I like Jordan and he will help the team, but the amount of his playing time will depend on how he converts on bunnies around the hoop.

sshow

Deservedly so Morris, Burke, Hardaway, etc. get talked about as great finds by Beilein and his staff but Morgan is arguably one of the great diamonds in the rough in the Beilein era. The gap between where he was at (projected to be) and where he is now is truly amazing.

Mattski

I am a serious Jordan Morgan fan–of the player, and the person. Do not understimate Jordan Morgan.